The use of sterol distributions combined with compound specific isotope analyses as a tool to identify the origin of fecal contamination in rivers

Abstract

The sterol distributions of 9 sediment samples from the Illinois River Basin (OK and AR, USA) were examined in order to identify the source of fecal contamination. The samples were extracted with organic solvent using sonication and the fractions containing the sterols were isolated and analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The sterol distributions of the Illinois River samples were dominated by phytosterols. They were compared to those of different animal feces and manures using a principal component analysis and correspondence appeared between the sediments and one group of chicken feces samples. Gas chromatography–isotope ratio mass spectrometry analyses were also performed to determine the δ13C values for the phytosterols and to get an indication of their origin based on the C3/C4 plant signatures. The δ13C values obtained ranged from −30.6‰ to −17.4‰ (VPDB) corresponding to a mixed signature between C3 and C4 plants, indicating a C4 plant contribution to the C3 plant natural background. These observations indicate that a proportion of the phytosterols originated from chicken feces.